Strings wins IBMA's biggest honor
Strings, a guitar ace from Michigan now living in Nashville, also won Guitar Player of the Year.
Previously announced inductees into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame were Alison Krauss, bandleader/banjoist Lynn Morris, and early bluegrass influencers the Stoneman Family, who were honored during the show.
The recipients of the 2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards:
Vocal Group of the Year - Sister Sadie
Instrumental Group of the Year: Appalachian Road Show
Song of the Year: "Richest Man" – Balsam Range (artist), Jim Beavers/Jimmy Yeary/Connie Harrington (songwriters), Balsam Range (producer), Mountain Home Records (label)
Album of the Year: Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio's Musical Legacy – Various Artists, Joe Mullins (producers), Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (label)
Gospel Recording of the Year (tie):
"After While" – Dale Ann Bradley (artist), Public Domain, Dale Ann Bradley (producer), Pinecastle Records (label)
"In the Resurrection Morning" – Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore (artists), Mark Wheeler (songwriter), Barry Abernathy, Jim VanCleve (producers), Dottie Leonard Miller (Executive Producer), Billy Blue Records (label)
Instrumental Recording of the Year: "Ground Speed" – Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson (artists), Earl Scruggs (songwriter), Jon Weisberger (producer), Mountain Home Music (label)
New Artist of the Year: Appalachian Road Show
Collaborative Recording of the Year: "White Line Fever" – Bobby Osborne with Tim O'Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Todd Phillips, Alison Brown (artists), Merle Haggard/Jeff Tweedy (songwriters) Alison Brown, Garry West (producers), Compass Records (label)
Female Vocalist of the Year: Dale Ann Bradley
Male Vocalist of the Year (Tie): Danny Paisley and Del McCoury
Banjo Player of the Year: Scott Vestal
Bass Player of the Year: Missy Raines
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year: Justin Moses
Fiddle Player of the Year: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Mandolin Player of the Year: Sierra Hull
More news
- 09/19/25: Strings takes home biggest IBMA honor
- 09/16/25: Strings extends tour into winter
- 07/16/25: Strings, Krauss score IBMA nominations
- 05/13/25: Strings tours through the fall
- 04/07/25: Strings, Sutton go live
- 01/28/25: Strings heads west...to Australia, New Zealand
- 01/07/25: Strings continues tour
- 10/07/24: Combs, Church, Strings, Taylor plan Hurricane Helene benefit
CD reviews
Never a judicious editor, Billy Strings' latest is 74 minutes of mind-expanding 'grassicana. The thing is, while it runs a bit long one is at a loss as to what could or should have been held in reserve; even the most frivolous numbers — "MORBUD4ME," "Richard Petty" and "Catch and Release," perhaps — add humor and context to the recording. "Highway Prayers" is a powerful set of music, covering the bluegrass and rootsicana bases. ...
It's just like Billy Strings to have a song title that reads like a heavy metal track ("Hellbender") for a tune that sounds like traditional bluegrass music. When it comes to creating music, though, the phrase, 'It's all good,' actually applies to Strings – for once. "Renewal" is over an hour of music, and is (mostly) bluegrass – at heart – but not just bluegrass music.
"Hide And Seek" is one of the most complicated recordings, ...
As befits the reigning IBMA Guitar Player of the Year, Billy Strings' second full release, "Home" displays his guitar-playing range. But, there is much more to the fellow that rages through live shows, and those qualities are displayed on "Home."
Strings (born William Apostol) lives up to his nom de guerre. Electric, acoustic 6- or 12-string guitar provide the ingredients for his work, and his guitar work is mostly, although not always, delivered at a breakneck tempo, ...
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